January 22, 2019

It sounds like a bad joke, but the "Bikini Hiker" seems to have died of exposure.

BBC reports.
A Taiwanese hiker known for posting bikini clad photos from mountain summits has died after falling into a ravine during a solo trek. Gigi Wu managed to contact emergency services but bad weather delayed rescue operations, local media reports say. The 36-year-old is thought to have died of hypothermia.... While she was famous for posting pictures of herself in bikinis from summits, she was an experienced hiker, appearing to use proper equipment and precautions during her expeditions. According to Taiwan News, bad weather had prevented a rescue helicopter from reaching her three times. A rescue mission was eventually sent out on foot.... Her last Facebook post to her more than 18,000 followers is dated 18 January and shows the view from a mountain above the clouds.

55 comments:

Qwerty Smith said...

I'm just glad nobody from the rescue copter got killed. People should not be made to risk their lives to save tourists who opt to engage in obviously, exceedingly risky hobbies.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Reminds me of the death of Talus Monkey. A local favorite known for his exuberant climbing attitude, fearless rock skills, and edgy climbing costumes.

RIP.

You gotta respect the mountains. They really don't care at all about your trendy get-up.

gspencer said...

"she was an experienced hiker, appearing to use proper equipment and precautions during her expeditions"

Such as hiking alone in remote areas?

Qwerty Smith said...

Oh--and how can one use "proper...precautions" while mountain-climbing alone? Partnering up is the foremost proper precaution!

Darrell said...

Live by the bikini, die by the bikini.

AlbertAnonymous said...

So what's the opposite of Ironic? Duh! maybe? I don't know.

I do love Bo Burnham's "Isn't it ironic" line:

"I was conceived on my grandparents' pull-out couch"

Bay Area Guy said...

Bikinis are good.

Hiking is real good.

Of all the women I've ever hiked with (friends, girlfriends, girlfriends of friends, potential girlfriends, future ex-wives, and future wives), not one of these women ever suggested the desire to wear a bikini while hiking.

Seems like a misplaced focus on seeking attention, rather than enjoying the hike, but that's just me.

Ann Althouse said...

"So what's the opposite of Ironic?"

The opposite of ironic is poetic justice.

Ron Nelson said...

The headline has to be a candidate for headline of the year -- accurate, ironic, arresting.

mccullough said...

Same age Lord Byron was when he died.

Humperdink said...

"Hold my clothes, watch this."

Yancey Ward said...

Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids good-bye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down he thought
"Well, isn't this nice."

Darrell said...

I had no idea Lord Byron wore a bikini. Had to have invented it, too.

Anthony said...

I read that as "Bikini Hitler" initially.

Yancey Ward said...

Yes, hiking mountains alone isn't in my description of proper mountaineering.

The story is troubling, though- it implies she fell on December 24th, posted the last photo on January 18th. That is 25 days mounting a rescue that failed. I understand not sending a helicopter in bad conditions- conditions that can definitely last 25 days, but not sending rescue on foot earlier seems a bit odd to me.

Yancey Ward said...

Anthony,

Me too.

chickelit said...

She had a body to die for.

campy said...

I read that as "Bikini Hitler" initially.

So did I!

Known Unknown said...

"I read that as "Bikini Hitler" initially."

As did I.

chillblaine said...

18,000 followers and not one hiking companion? All out of pity, especially for Instagram/Facebook thots. They like to brag about their all-expenses paid trips to Dubai, where they get paid to be shit on.

richlb said...

That is not what I was hoping to see in that photo.

Yancey Ward said...

I wouldn't have clicked the link to the BBC if I hadn't misread it as "Bikini Hitler". I only looked back at the title more closely when I couldn't make sense of the "Hitler" part- I went in expecting a tall, leggy, blond Bavarian climber.

Humperdink said...

"I read that as "Bikini Hitler" initially."

#MeToo. It was the capital H that did it.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

mountains can be dangerous--
you're lucky to get out in one-piece, nevermind a bikini

btw we got a 'bikini hitler' here too.

"Vear vat you vil hikink....but Not Ze Thong!!"









Ann Althouse said...

"The headline has to be a candidate for headline of the year -- accurate, ironic, arresting."

Thanks. I hesitated to use it because I did not want to seem to be laughing at her.

Ann Althouse said...

"That is not what I was hoping to see in that photo."

It's a good illustration of the absence that is death.

Bay Area Guy said...

It's very sad, if this girl died.

But, there is a lesson there. Enjoy the hike, and do the hike for the sake of hiking (exercise, nature, clear air, scenery).

If that is not sufficient, and you can only get high by posting bikini shots of you doing the hike, well, that could be a problem.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

the irony may come when we read about the surfer who drowns wearing a parka and crampons

Ann Althouse said...

You asked for it... Althouse delivers: Bikini Hitler.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

ok now do Biker Hitlini

Humperdink said...

"You asked for it... Althouse delivers: Bikini Hitler."

Exposure on a mountaintop, indecent exposure at the beach.

PS: Do I detect a smirk?

Humperdink said...

Let's give her credit for not trying the wet T-shirt thingy.

Humperdink said...

On the bright side, she is now a leading candidate for the Timothy Treadwell Hall of Fame.

Darrell said...

An enterprising optometrist could make a killing offering vision checks to Althouse readers. No more Bikini Hitlers!

SeanF said...

Yancey Ward: The story is troubling, though- it implies she fell on December 24th, posted the last photo on January 18th. That is 25 days mounting a rescue that failed. I understand not sending a helicopter in bad conditions- conditions that can definitely last 25 days, but not sending rescue on foot earlier seems a bit odd to me.

Poorly written article. She had a minor fall back in December, but continued hiking. The fall which incapacitated her happened later, probably after the January 18th post.

Maybe the article was intending to suggest that after-effects of the December fall may have contributed to the fatal fall...?

I'm Full of Soup said...

Speaking of eyesight, I, at first glance, thought your headline said "Bikini Hitler".

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

@Darrell
it's not our vision-- it's "Godwin's Goggles"
--being constantly bombarded by the MSM/lefties accusing/associating/attributing even the most innocuous things to Nazism/Hitler/fascism to the point we expect it even in the most unusual places ie: hikers in bikinis.

Ann Althouse said...

"it's not our vision-- it's "Godwin's Goggles"
--being constantly bombarded by the MSM/lefties accusing/associating/attributing even the most innocuous things to Nazism/Hitler/fascism to the point we expect it even in the most unusual places ie: hikers in bikinis."

As the Covington Catholic schoolboys story teaches us: People see what they think they are going to see.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

or what they are conditioned to see

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

when we see the word 'pothole', no one thinks of Pol Pot

Humperdink said...

If the word pothole was capitalized, I would think of Pennsylvania.

Quaestor said...

A curious and ironic effect of hypothermia is often a delusion of excessive warmth. There are numerous reports of lost hikers and even experienced arctic explorers whose deaths were hastened by having disrobed.

mccullough said...

Thigh gap Hitler

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

"paradoxical disrobing"

now picture Hitler in a snowstorm. No wait-- dont do that

Anthony said...

Vee haff vays to make you disrobe.

Maillard Reactionary said...

Shame that her bikini wasn't made of aluminized mylar.

Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...

"... bad weather had prevented a rescue helicopter from reaching her three times."

But the helicopter was able to reach her twice?

Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...

AlbertAnonymous said: So what's the opposite of Ironic?

Uronic

Wince said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Wince said...

After realizing the headline didn't say Hitler, what I thought of was a hiked-up bikini like Borat's.

With a bikini like that... it's like no Bikini Atoll.

Andrew said...

Now that's funny right there, I don't care who you are.

Paul said...

Darwin Award Winner!

Andrew said...

By the way, googling for "Bikini Hitler" produces some interesting results. Who knew?

Jim at said...

The horse flies are bad enough hiking in the high country. But in a bikini?
Thanks. No.

Paul Zrimsek said...

I could swear I saw Bikini Hitler at the movies. It was on a twin bill with Omaha Beach Party.